Complete regeneration of ablated eyestalk in penaeid prawn, Penaeus monodon

Ablation of one eyestalk is generally practised in all commercial prawn hat cheries to induce gonad maturation and spawning. An observation was made th at the ablated eyestalk of spent females of the tiger prawn Penaeus monodon was completely regenerated in less than 6 months and assumed the shape, si ze, structure and pigmentation of the unablated eye. Significance of this o bservation in the context of captive broodstock development and the need fo r detailed examination of the regeneration process and the functional aspec ts of the regenerated eyestalk in inducing gonad maturation and spawning ar e highlighted.